Picnic table



H. SOSZYNSKI Feb. 4, 1964 PICNIC TABLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 19,1963 INVENTOR. HENRY 505: Y/VJK/ BY H. SOSZYNSKI Feb. 4, 1964 PICNICTABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 19, 1963 IN VENT OR. HfNRY 60s:YA/J'K/ ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1964 H. SOSZYNSKI 3,120,405

PICNIC TABLE Filed Feb. 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 3M INVENTOR.

HENRY SOSZY/VS/(l V'MW A TTORNEZYS United States Patent 3,120,405 PICNICTABLE Henry Soszynski, Hanson, Mass. (RED, Whitman, Mass.) Filed Feb.19, I963, Ser. No. 259,574 6 Claims. (Cl. 297-157) This inventionrelates to a table, and particularly to a table assembly having seatswhich form a part of the table structure.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light weight tableassembly which can be readily assembled and dis-assembled and which canbe easily stored and transported.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table and seatcombination in which the legs supporting the table, and the seat andtable top are positioned in such a way that persons can assume a sittingposition or arise from the table without becoming entangled with tablelegs or other supporting members.

A table made in accordance with the present invention includes a top, aplurality of pyramidally disposed legs, a plurality of horizontalsupport members equal in number to the number of pyramidally disposedlegs, said horizontal supports being interlocked inwardly of theirextremities by cross-lap joints to form a polygonal structure, eachcross-lap joint being positioned to engage one of the pyramidallydisposed legs and all such joints being supported at a substantiallyuniform height, each of said horizontal supports being provided with atransverse slot positioned intermediate the cross-lap joints, a topsupport member extending through each of the transverse slots, said topsupport members forming the lateral edges of an inverted pyramidalstructure whose vertex and axis lie generally on the vertical axis ofthe pyramidally disposed legs, said vertex being positioned at a pointbelow the vertex of the said legs and also below the plane of thepolygonal structure formed by the cross-lapped horizontal supports, thetop resting on the outer extremities of the top support members, meansassociated with the top and top support members adapted to maintain themin a generally fixed relation, and means extending between the vertex ofthe pyramidally disposed legs and the vertex of the inverted pyramidalstructure for drawing the vertices closer together.

The objects and advantages obtained by tables constructed in accordancewith the present invention will be apparent in the specification and inthe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a table embodying principles of my inventionwith a portion of the top being broken away to permit a better view ofthe under structure.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 3 and 4 are plan views of alternative embodiments of tables madein accordance with the present invention wherein the table topconfiguration and the niunber of persons who can be seated at the tableis varied.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the table top ofFIGURE 1 along section line 55.

FIGURE 5a is an enlarged plan view of a segment of the top showing thecorner reinforcing plate construction.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the leg supports ofthe table of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6a shows the legs of the table looking in the direction of thearrows 6a-6a of FIGURE 6 but when the legs are in a disassembled andfolded condition.

FIGURES 7 and 7a are views in elevation and in plan of a single legelement.

FIGURES 8 and 8a are views of alternative types of horizontal supportelements which can be employed.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view of a top support at the point where itpasses through the horizontal supportthe dotted lines showing relativemovement during lock-in operation.

FIGURE 10 is a schematic view of the table to illustrate relativemovements during the locking operation.

FIGURES 10a and 1011 are enlarged views of one embodiment of a centerbolt showing a preferred head configuration.

Reference is now made to the embodiment of my invention illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 2. The table may be made of wood, plastics including fiberglass or other suitable material. It includes a top 10 of a generallytriangular shape. If desired, the top can be divided into sections whichpermit the table to be dismantled in smaller units to facilitate storageand transportation. For example, the triangular top Iii of the table inFIGURE 1 can be divided into three sections Ila, 11b and 110. In suchcases, it is convenient to provide the mating section edged with atongue and groove joint (12a and 1212) as can be seen in FIGURE 5.

In the illustrative embodiment, a toe plate 3%, 39b and 390 is securedto each of the top sections Illa, 11b and lie as shown in FIGURE 5a, andeach tends to support the adjoining top section when the top isassembled. The three sections are secured together by suitable fasteningmeans such as bolts 13 which pass through the top section and theunderlying toe plate of the adjoining top section as shown in FIGURE 5.Obviously other fasteners such as conventional cam locks may beemployed.

In the particular table embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2,there is a central opening 17 in the top which serves to facilitateassembling and disassembling the table. However, the invention is not tobe construed as being limited to the form of top shown in these views; asingle piece solid top can be employed if desired and the outline shapethereof can be varied as desired.

The table assembly illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 also includes threeleg members 18, i9, 20. The legs are arranged in the form of a pyramid,the upper ends joining at a common vertex or apex. If desired, hinges orsimilar fastening means can be employed to tie in the upper portions ofthe legs. URE 6, a hinge 21 is mounted so that its pivot axis 21a isaligned with the juncture of legs 18 and 26; a hinge 22 is mounted sothat its pivot axis 22a is aligned with the juncture of legs I9 and 20.A corresponding positioned hinge is not needed between legs 18 and 19but can be employed it" it is desired to do so provided it has a pivotpin which can be readily removed so as to enable the hinge elements tobe separated. A hinge arrangement of the type shown in FIGURE 6 willpermit the legs to be folded into a compact unit for transportation andstorage as shown in FIGURE 6a.

Reverting again to the table illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 thestructure also includes three horizontal support members 23, 24- and 25.In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the number of horizontalsupports is the same as the number of legs employed in the table. Thehorizontal supports are adapted to be interlocked by means of cross-lapjoints positioned inwardly of the extremities of the support members andthereby form a polygon structure having the same number of sides as thenumber of legs in the table. As can be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2, thepolygonal structure formed by the interlocked horizontal supports ispositioned so that it rests on and is supported by the pyramidallydisposed legs-each crosslap joint engaging and being supported by a leg.To facilitate the support of the polygonal structure by the Thus, asillustrated in FIG legs, it is preferred to provide each leg with anotched section which matingly conforms to the contours of the cross-lapjoint. Such a notched section can be seen in FIGURES 7 and 7a; the notch26 has a flat section 27 which is generally parallel to the floor andthe flats 27 of each leg on which the cross-lap joints rest are atsubstantially equal altitudes above the floor level so that the plane ofthe supported polygonal structure will be gen erally parallel to theground or floor. In the preferred embodiment, the notch can also beprovided with contoured portions 23 and 29, which generally correspondto the angle of intersection of the cross-lapped joints which will bepositioned to rest in the notch, such an arrangement will provide forbetter locking action.

FIGURES 8 and 8a show alternative embodiments of a horizontal supportmember in which a transverse slot 30 is positioned intermediate the halflap cuts 31, 32 which, when joined with corresponding half laps ofanother horizontal support form the cross-lap joints. The configurationof FIGURE 8 is used in the embodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2 or in anyembodiment wherein an uneven number of supports is used, while that inFIGURE 80 is used in embodiments having an even number of supports. Thetransverse slots are cut at various angles dependent upon the number ofsupports used. In FIG- URE 8a, the slots are cut at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the support, for use in a table having foursupports. The transverse slot can be of any desired configuration whichwill permit a top support member to extend upwardly and outwardlytherethrough and the opening should be of such size that there will besome play or relative movement between the elements.

Extending through each of the transvesre slots is a top support member33, 34- and 35, these support members meet generally at vertex 36(FIGURE 2) of an inverted pyramid of which the top support members arethe lateral edges. The axis of the inverted pyramid lies generally onthe vertical axis of the upright pyramid formed by the pyramidallydisposed legs. The vertex 36, however, is positioned below the vertex 37of the legs and also below the plane of the polygonal structure formedby the crosslapped horizontal supports.

The outer top extremities 33, 34 and 35 of the top support member 33, 34and 35, should preferably be at a substantially uniform height above thefloor or ground level and they usually should lie in a plane which is atan altitude above the vertex 37 of the legs.

The underside of the table top it) rests on and is supported by theouter extremities 33', 34' and 35' of the top support members. In theembodiment illustrated in FIG- URFS 1 and 2, the table top is providedwith reinforcing strips 38a, 38b, 330 which extend along the under edgesof the top. The corner reinforcement plates 39a, 39b and 39c (see FIGUREa), provide an abutment surface 40 against which the outer extremity 33of the top support can hear when the structure is locked in.

An important feature of the invention lies in the provision of meansextending between the vertex of the pyramidally disposed legs and thevertex of the inverted pyramidal structure for bringing the verticescloser together. Thus, in the table embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1and 2, a tie bolt or center bolt 41 extends between the vertex 36 andthe vertex 37. When the wing nut 42 is tightened, the vertices 36 and 37will be pivoted in the vicinity of the transverse opening in thehorizontal support (see dotted lines in FIGURE 9) and the outerextremities (e.g. 34" FIGURE 9) will be urged against the abutments (cg.40 in FIG. 1) under the table top and thereby lock the top in place.This drawing action on the center bolt also serves to spread thepyramidally disposed legs and thereby urge them against the cross lapjoints so as to lock the cross-lapped horizontal supports in place. Inthis way, a rigid structure is provided. This action is schematicallyillustrated in FIGURE wherein 5G is the table top; 51 and 52 are legs;53 and 54 are horizontal supports, 55 and 56 are top supports; 57 is acenter bolt and 58 is a wing nut. Bolt 57 is provided with a head havingoutwardly extending flanges 59, which bear against the underside oftable supports 55 and 56. The flanges 59 may be integral with or weldedto the bolt, or could be formed of a separate platelike member, slidablymounted on the shank of a conventional carriage bolt. By tightening thewing nut 58 on the bolt 57, flanges 59 bear against the vertex formed bythe juncture of the top supports 55 and 56 and the wing nut 58 bearsagainst the vertex formed by the juncture of the legs 51 and 52. Furthertightening causes the various parts to move in the directions indicatedby arrows 6ti67. If the dimensions of the parts and openings areproperly toleranced, particularly at A, B, C, D, E and F of FIGURE 10,these movements will be sufiicient to lock the loosely" assembled partsinto a rigid table assembly.

It should be noted at this point that the legs, horizontal supports andtop supports may assume different shapes or configurations withoutdeparting from the spirit of this invention. Each, or any one of thesesets of members could be curved or slightly bent without altering thefunctional relationship attained. The horizontal supports could be bentoutwardly under each seat for example, to provide for a greater area ofseat support.

Reverting again to the embodiment illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2, seatmembers 70, 71 and "/2 can be carried by the extremities of thecross-lapped horizontal supports 23, 24 and 25 which lie outwardly ofthe joints. The seats can be secured by bolts 75 or other readilyremovable fasteners and if desired, the underside of the seat can beslotted to receive the horizontal supports; this can best be seen withrespect to seat 70 in FIGURE 2. In this figure, the slots 73 and 74 areadapted to receive the upper edges of the horizontal supports 25 and 23.

It will be understood that where seats do not form a part of theassembly the projecting extremities of the horizontal supports should beshortened and conventional chairs disposed as desired around the table.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the table top isprovided with a central opening. This opening will permit ready accessto the wing nut so that the structure can be locked into a rigidassembly. In such cases, it is also possible to employ arrangements inwhich the vertex of the legs can project through the table opening andbe positioned above the plane of the top. Obviously, the opening couldbe eliminated and the bolt could be inverted and tightened at the bottomof the assembly. Moreover, where the top is solid, the center bolt couldpass through the upper surface of the top, if desired. In such anarrangement, the upper vertex would bear against the underside of thetop when the bolt was tightened.

In FIGURES 3 and 4, it will be observed that the same principlesdescribed above in connection with the triangular table of FIGURES 1 and2, have been employed and the same benefits are obtained even thoughentirely different top configurations and seating arrangements areinvolved. In FIGURES 3 and 4, the structural elements are numbered asfollows: the tops 80, the legs 81, the horizontal supports 82, and thetop supports 83.

Design features of this invention are disclosed and claimed in mycopending application Serial No. D. 73,630, filed February 19, 1963, nowDesign Patent No. 196,121, issued August 27, 1963.

I claim:

1. A table including a top, a plurality of pyramidally disposed legs, aplurality of horizontal support members equal in number to the number ofpyramidally disposed legs, said horizontal supports being interlockedinwardly of their extremities by cross-lap joints to form a polygonalstructure, each cross-lap joint being positioned to engage one of thepyramidally disposed legs and all such joints being supported at asubstantially uniform height, each of said horizontal supports beingprovided with a transverse slot positioned intermediate the cross-lapjoints, a top support member extending through each of the transverseslots, said top support members forming the lateral edges of an invertedpyramidal structure whose vertex and axis lie generally on the verticalaxis of the pyramidally disposed legs said vertex being positioned at apoint below the vertex of the said legs and also below the plane of thepolygonal structure formed by the crosslapped horizontal supports, thetop resting on the outer extremities of the top sup-port members, meansassociated with the top and top support members adapted to maintain themin a generally fixed relation, and means extending between the vertex ofthe pyramidally disposed legs and the vertex of the inverted pyramidalstructure for drawing the vertices closer together.

2. A table according to claim 1 wherein a seat member is carried by theportions of the cross-lapped horizontal supports which project outwardlyfrom a cross-lap point.

3. A table according to claim 1 wherein the means for drawing thevertices together comprises a nut and bolt extending between thevertices.

4. A table according to claim 1 wherein each of the References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 469,353 Nesson Feb. 23,1892 1,390,836 Stoll Sept. 13, 1921 1,876,400 Cederquist Sept. 6, 1932t1,951, 6i19 MacDonald Mar. 20, 1934 2,624,469 Cadwell et al Jan. 6,1953 2,717,028 Villernure Sept. 6, 1955 2,800,952 McPhilomy July 30,1957 3,074,721 Wilson Jan. 22, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,053 Great Britainof 1887 104,287 Switzerland May 1, 1924 566,631 France Nov. 24, 1923UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3,120,405 February 4 1964 Henry Soszynski It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered pati ent requiring correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 19,, for "point" read joint Signed and sealed this 30thday of June 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W; SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Afiesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. A TABLE INCLUDING A TOP, A PLURALITY OF PYRAMIDALLY DISPOSE LEGS, APLURALITY OF HORIZONTAL SUPPORT MEMBERS EQUAL IN NUMBER OF PYRAMIDALLYDISPOSED LEGS, SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS BEING INTERLOCKED INWARDLY OFTHEIR EXTREMITIES BY CROSS-LAP JOINTS TO FORM A POLYGONAL STRUCTURE,EACH CROSS-LAP JOINT BEING POSITIONED TO ENGAGE ONE OF THE PYRAMIDALLYDISPOSED LEGS AND ALL SUCH JOINTS BEING SUPPORTED AT A SUBSTANTIALLYUNIFORM HEIGHT, EACH OF SAID HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS BEING PROVIDED WITH ATRANSVERSE SLOT POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE CROSS-LAP JOINTS, A TOPSUPPORT MEMBER EXTENDING THROUGH EACH OF THE TRANSVERSE SLOTS, SAID TOPSUPPORT MEMBERS FORMING THE LATERAL EDGES OF AN INVERTED PYRAMIDALSTRUCTURE WHOSE VERTEX AND AXIS LIE GENERALLY ON THE VERTICAL AXIS OFTHE PYRAMIDALLY DISPOSED LEGS SAID VERTEX BEING POSITIONED AT A POINTBELOW THE VERTEX OF THE SAID LEGS AND ALSO BELOW THE PLANE OF THEPOLYGONAL STRUCTURE FORMED BY THE CROSSLAPPED HORIZONTAL SUPPORTS, THETOP RESTING ON THE OUTER EXTREMITIES OF THE TOP SUPPORT MEMBERS, MEANSASSOCIATED WITH THE TOP AND TOP SUPPORT MEMBERS ADAPTED TO MAINTAIN THEMIN A GENERALLY FIXED RELATION, AND MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE VERTEX OFTHE PYRAMIDALLY DISPOSED LEGS AND THE VERTEX OF THE INVERTED PYRAMIDALSTRUCTURE FOR DRAWING THE VERTICES CLOSER TOGETHER.